Last Wednesday, members of the Noranda Bauxite Company's management team and employees launched a student mentorship programme among schools in its operating-area communities in St Ann.

They led coaching sessions at the Discovery Bay All-Age, Keith Primary, and Waltham Abbey Primary schools. A number of other schools from the company's mining and plant areas will be included in the sessions scheduled to take place on Wednesdays during the school year.

Noranda's Industrial Relations Manager Nathan Thompson said that the programme serves to assist with counselling in character development, lifestyle values, and providing role-model examples for students during a critical period of their learning curve.

Thompson said that employees from all levels of the organisation will be invited to join the mentorship panel.